I’m often asked what’s the best thing about being a speaker? There are tons of great things. You get to travel and experience new places. You control your schedule. You can earn an amazing income. But the absolute best thing about being a speaker is making a difference in people’s lives. No book, podcast, or coaching program can impact someone’s life quite like the right presentation at the right time delivered by the right speaker. These moments are magical!

Making a Difference

Want proof? The picture above is from a recent Instagram post. It’s from someone who heard me speak three years ago. Talk about lasting impact! Check out what she said…

In honor of hump day and #20BeautifulWomenChallange, I decided a triple post day was acceptable. For those of you not aware, in the coming months I have 2 very important jazz competitions, district and chapter FFA officer elections, and FFA districts. I will also be appearing at many of the local council to push for some much needed changes at our county fair.

These things are definitely not something I always knew I wanted to do. Some are not a big deal, but district officer elections, for example, are something that scares me quite a bit. Of course I do it because I love it, but with a touch of fear.

I suppose you’re wondering what “I Wawa” means. You can thank public speaker @KentJulian for that. Look him up on YouTube. I heard him speak at the state 4H conference 3 years ago and still remember things he said. You can’t hate your Wawa until you face your Wawa.

Quick mini shoutout to @kent_julian. You are easily one of the best public speakers I have ever heard, and I can see every day the ways that “Show up and Shine” makes a difference in my life. Since that June afternoon, “my name is Shawn, I’m 4 years old, and I love Wawa” goes through my head at least once a day. You have made a positive impact on my life, as well as the 999 other 4Hers there, so thank you for that.

To my followers, do what you love and love what you do, and don’t be afraid to jump into the Wawa!

Notice, this young lady heard me speak three years ago. Three years ago! And not only does she remember the core message, she’s living it! It doesn’t get any better than this!!

The Speak It Forward Boot Camp will help you launch your speaking business. It shows you, step by step, how to go from no brand and zero bookings to running a successful, six-figure business. The Killer Keynote Conference will help you develop an unforgettable presentation and equip you to deliver it without depending on notes.

Obviously, both conferences deliver outstanding results. Yet the heartbeat behind each event is to empower you to make a difference…a positive, lasting difference…in the lives of others. That’s what it’s all about!

Question: Have you experienced making a difference in someone’s lives through speaking? Please tell us about it.

]]>https://speakitforward.com/its-all-about-making-a-difference/feed/0Should You Pursue Your New Business Idea? (HINT: Date It First)https://speakitforward.com/should-you-pursue-your-new-business-idea/
https://speakitforward.com/should-you-pursue-your-new-business-idea/#commentsTue, 04 Nov 2014 12:00:27 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=956You have a ton of new ideas for your business. How do you determine which business idea you should pursue and which you should dump? Here’s a thought…try dating your business idea first!

Date Your Business Idea First

Beware of infatuation. Like a first date, a new business idea can be exciting. But will you still like your idea a month from now? Or do you just happened to be infatuated with the idea? The first step to knowing if a business idea is worth pursuing is to slow down and get to know it better. What’s its personality? What are its strengths? What are its weaknesses?

Date it. So you’ve gone out a few times with your business idea and it’s more than infatuation. In fact, you really like this new idea. So now it’s time to build a solid relationship with your business idea to make sure it fits your core business. It’s time to ask the “relationship” questions like:

Does this business idea fit my mission?

Can this business idea replace an existing product or service I offer?

Will this business idea serve my current clients and customers well?

Could this business idea attract new clients or customers who fit my target market?

Put a ring on it. After asking the “relationship” questions, you’ll know whether you’re ready to marry this idea or not. If your are ready to make the commitment, stop beating around the bush. Put a ring on it! The time to take it slow is when your dating. Now it’s time to speed things up. Map out your plan and implement it with maximum focus and effort.

Questions: Do you have new business ideas? What stage are you at with your business idea? Are you ready to take it to the next level? If so, what’s holding you back?

]]>https://speakitforward.com/should-you-pursue-your-new-business-idea/feed/43 Excuses for Not Starting Your Own Business (and How to Overcome Them)https://speakitforward.com/3-excuses-for-not-starting-your-own-business/
https://speakitforward.com/3-excuses-for-not-starting-your-own-business/#commentsMon, 27 Oct 2014 12:01:46 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=957Study shows almost half of workers in their 20s and 30s want to own their own business. So what’s stopping you from starting your own business? Here are three common excuses people give for not pursuing their own business.

You lack funds.

According to the most recent Bureau of Census data, these are the figures for money needed for new businesses:

1% needed $1,000,000 or more

14% needed $25,000 — $999,999

10% needed $10,000 — $24,999

9% needed $5,000 — $9,999

34% needed less than $5,000

26% did not require any money at all!

This shows us that 69% of all new businesses need less than $10,000 to get started. 70% of the people on the street say they would like to start their own business. So why don’t they?

Great question, Dan. Since most businesses can be started by bootstrapping, through angel investors such as friends and family, or via crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, it’s time to stop using money as an excuse. Go ahead and start!

You lack knowledge.

Lots of entrepreneurs don’t have business degrees, and I’m one of them. I took one business class in college. It was basic business math. I passed…ON A CURVE. What I, along with many other entrepreneurs, have discovered is a business degree is not a prerequisite to starting a successful business.

Don’t get me wrong. Education is vital when starting your own business, but don’t make the mistake of thinking the only way to get an education is in the classroom. Classroom learning is great. But so is being a voracious reader, joining a mastermind, hiring a coach, and attending conferences that focus on starting your own business. Commit to ongoing, continuous learning and you’ll definitely gain the knowledge you need to start your own business.

You lack time.

Do you track your time? If you don’t, try it. You’ll be shocked at how much time you probably waste! As Stephen Covey said, many people are stuck in the “thick of thin things.” But the truth is we make time for what we value. So ask yourself, is staring your own business important enough to carve out time for it?

It was for me! I bootstrapped my business for three years while having three children in elementary school and traveling 100 nights a year for my full-time job. How did I find the time to be a good husband, a good father, a good employee, and start a business? I cut out a ton of fluff. I basically committed to personal development, investing in my family, doing my full-time job, and bootstrapping my business. That’s was it for three years. But three years later, I had launched my own business without sacrificing what mattered most to me. You can do the same!

Bottom line, you’ll find the time if it’s important to you.

Question: Which of these common excuses keeps you from starting your own business? What can you do this week to overcome this excuse?

]]>https://speakitforward.com/3-excuses-for-not-starting-your-own-business/feed/43 Tips for Combating Public Speaking Anxietyhttps://speakitforward.com/3-tips-for-combating-public-speaking-anxiety/
https://speakitforward.com/3-tips-for-combating-public-speaking-anxiety/#commentsWed, 22 Oct 2014 19:02:12 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=945Believe it or not, even professional speakers face public speaking anxiety. (Aka “glossophobia.” How’s that for a big word?) For instance, when you finally land a big speaking engagement, do you worry about it for weeks in advance? Or perhaps right before you hit the stage your sweat glands start pumping, your heart starts pounding, your hands start shaking, and your voice start quivering.

For me, public speaking anxiety presents itself in yawning. Yes, you read that correctly…yawning! About five minutes before it’s time to present, I often start to yawn. It’s the strangest thing.

How can speakers deal with public speaking anxiety? Try these three public speaking tips to combat your nerves.

Combating Public Speaking Anxiety

Days Before Your Presentation. Prepare well. I know, this is common knowledge, but plans don’t fail because of a lack of common knowledge. They fail because common knowledge doesn’t always translate into common action. Therefore, if you want your presentation to be solid, don’t neglect the ACTION of preparation. This not only means putting together great content, it also includes practicing how you deliver your content. 20 percent of successful speech preparation is developing solid content. The other 80 percent comes from practicing your delivery!

Day of Your Presentation. Professional athletes follow a routine before games. Professional musicians do the same before performances. It only makes sense professional speakers should have a routine before presentations as well. Mine includes exercising, stretching, mentally walking through my presentation, arriving early to make sure everything is set according to my rider, and using Entertainer’s Secret before I hit the stage. Nothing combats public speaking anxiety on the day of your presentation like following a routines. (I don’t even yawn as much any more.)

During Your Presentation. Don’t sweat the small stuff. The time to practice effective presentation skills like gestures, eye contact, and the speed and pitch of your voice is long before you’re onstage. Once you hit the stage, focusing on these kind of details cause you to be robotic and mechanical. Just deliver your content. Even more, do it with passion and enthusiasm. If you want to work on presentations skills during your speech, pick one skill to work on so you don’t get distracted from your main purpose.

Questions: Which of these three public speaking tips is most helpful for you in combating public speaking anxiety? Are there any speaking tips would you add to this list?

]]>https://speakitforward.com/3-tips-for-combating-public-speaking-anxiety/feed/23 Leadership Habits for Effective Communicationhttps://speakitforward.com/3-leadership-habits-for-effective-communication/
https://speakitforward.com/3-leadership-habits-for-effective-communication/#commentsWed, 24 Sep 2014 11:28:03 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=922Great leaders are usually excellent communicators. Yet interestingly, some of their best communication skills are not directly tied to speaking. Here are 3 important leadership habits you might not realize are also important for effective communication.

3 Leadership Habits for Effective Communication

1. Be consistent. How you live communicates more than what you say. What’s more, if the two are incongruent, your lifestyle will speak louder than your words. Therefore, strive to walk your talk. And when you fall short, be quick to seek forgiveness and get back on track.

2. Be present. It’s easy to hide when your plate is full. Yet no amount of electronic communication can beat a face-to-face connection. One of the best ways to communicate you are a leader who cares is to simply be present.

3. Be engaged. Effective communication is about much more than getting your message out. It’s also about more than motivation and persuasion. Effective communication is a two-way street that includes talking and listening. In fact, according to Stephen Covey’s fifth habit, listening comes before talking (i.e. seek first to understand, then to be understood). So stop telling and start listening. Truly hear what is being said. Ask good questions. Lean in. Practice active listening.

Bottom line, when it comes to effective communication as a leader, your non-speaking habits often speak louder than your speaking habits. Therefore, make sure you focus on your “being” as much as your speaking.

Question: When it comes to effective communication, which of these three habits do you want to see most in a leader and why?

]]>https://speakitforward.com/3-leadership-habits-for-effective-communication/feed/617 Things NOT to Say if You Want to be a Motivational Speakerhttps://speakitforward.com/17-things-not-to-say-if-you-want-to-be-a-motivational-speaker/
https://speakitforward.com/17-things-not-to-say-if-you-want-to-be-a-motivational-speaker/#commentsWed, 27 Aug 2014 10:30:27 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=915You’d be surprised by the number of wannabe motivational speakers who don’t speak the language of motivation in their own lives. In fact, they do the exact opposite. The words they use in everday conversation are actually demotivational.

If you are interested in learning how to become a motivational speaker, a great place to start is with your own language. Here are 17 things you should never say to yourself or anyone else if you want to be a motivational speaker.

(NOTE: When you read the word “you” in a statement below, be sure to re-read the statement and replace “you” with “I” to see if your self-talk is demotivating.)

17 Things NOT to Say if You Want to be a Motivational Speaker

Setting goals isn’t that important.

You can’t.

Life’s not fair and there is nothing you can do about it.

Success is easy.

Success is hard and takes too much work.

You don’t need any help to be successful.

You don’t have a choice.

You will never be ____________________ enough.

Just try to fit in.

Who you spend time with doesn’t really matter.

You can’t help it.

You can’t change your attitude.

You can’t control your actions.

Fear failure.

Run away from problems.

Run away from decisions.

That’s impossible. It can’t be done!

So how are you doing? Are the words you use in everyday conversation motivating or demotivating? Speak It Forward events and programs are designed to equip you with the tools necessary to become a motivational speaker, but the first place to start is always with your own words.

Questions: What has helped you use motivating words in your everyday language?

Think pay it forward. When something positive happens to you, you “pay it forward” by doing something positive for someone else. The more you do this, the more you bless others and the more you end up being blessed.

Speak it forward is based on the same pay-it-forward philosophy. As a speaker, you “speak it forward” by sharing a positive, impactful message. The more ways you learn to share this message, the more you pay it forward by blessing others. Additionally, as an added bonus, the more you end up being blessed as well. This two-way street of blessing is one reason we use the phrase “maximize your impact and income as a speaker” in association with speak it forward.

With that as background, how can you embrace the pay-it-forward philosophy in your presentations? Here are 7 presentation tips designed to help you prepare and deliver speak-it-forward presentations.

7 Presentation Tips to Pay It Forward (i.e. Speak It Forward)

Fun. People are motivated to learn when they’re having a good time. Reciting information, even life-changing information, without passion or humor makes people less likely to pay attention. Speak-it-forward presentations are informative, but they’re also engaging and entertaining. To make sure your message sticks, keep people hooked through passion, entertainment, and laughter.

Objective. Can you summarize your big idea in 12-15 words? If the answer is “no,” then you’re message is not ready to be delivered. Presentations, especially keynote presentations, are about communicating one big idea in such a way that people walk out knowing exactly what was said and what to so with what was said. Of all the presentation tips, this one will help you narrow down your topic.

Read. Reading your speech diminishes your impact. It’s uninspiring and unauthentic. Even if you memorize 80 percent of your presentation and only look down to read occasionally, it still feels like reading to your audience. Bottom line, don’t read your presentation. Period. End of story. (HINT: At the Killer Keynote Conference you learn a preparation system that enables you to speak for 5 minutes or 5 hours with NO notes.)

Why. Do you know why you are a speaker? Better yet, do you know why you share your particular message? Knowing your why is core to being a speak-it-forward communicator. If you don’t know your why, or if your why is more about you than your audience, check out Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why.

Audience. To follow up on the previous tip, if your message is more about you than your audience, you are not a speak-it-forward communicator. How can you “speak it forward” if your primary focus is not the people you’re serving?

Real. Always learn from others, but never mimic others. You are an original, don’t live like a copy.

DNA. To be a speak-it-forward speaker, you must be a pay-it-forward person. Serving and giving with no strings attached must be in your DNA.

Questions: Which of the 7 speak-it-forward presentation tips above connects most with you as a speaker and why? Additionally, what is one of your favorite ways to pay it forward not only as a speaker, but also in everyday life?

]]>https://speakitforward.com/7-presentation-tips-to-pay-it-forward/feed/2Best Marketing Strategy for Speakers (HINT: Ask These 3 Questions)https://speakitforward.com/best-marketing-strategy-for-speakers/
https://speakitforward.com/best-marketing-strategy-for-speakers/#commentsWed, 13 Aug 2014 10:05:03 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=874Recently I shared the only 3 marketing strategies you need as a speaker (HINT: None of them cost more than $5). At the core of these three marketing strategies is actually one market strategy. It’s the best marketing strategy for speakers and entrepreneurs. It’s not slick or sleezy, fancy or fakey. It’s not even cheesy or pushy.

Best Marketing Strategy for Speakers: GIVING

That’s it! Give as much as you can. And once you do, figure out ways to give even more.

Here are three questions to ask yourself if you want to make giving the core of your marketing strategy…

Why Give?

Giving works as a marketing strategy for speakers because it adds value to potential clients while simultaneously making them aware of you, your message, and what makes you unique. Additionally, it’s a great way to create TOMA (i.e. Top Of Mind Awareness).

The key is to give with no strings attached. Otherwise, giving becomes a manipulative tactic instead of a marketing strategy. Marketing can be defined as gaining the interest of potential clients. Can you think of a better way to gain the interest of potential clients than by authentically adding value with no strings attached?

How to Make Giving Central?

Listen. What topics do your potential clients talk about most? Give to help them with these topics.

Ask. Conduct surveys about major roadblocks your potential clients face. Then give to help them overcome these roadblocks.

Read. When you read industry trade journals and blogs or listen to industry podcasts for 3-6 months, you will be more knowledgeable than most people working in that industry. As you gain more and more insight into the industry, you can add value for potential clients by addressing the major themes you discover through reading.

What to Give?

There are so many things you can give:

Time

Information

Articles

Training

Coaching

Consulting

Books

Anything that adds value to your potential clients can be a gift. Start by giving free and inexpensive gifts (blogs, video tutorials, volunteer work, etc.) until you clarify the best ways to meet your potential clients needs. Once you really understand their needs, consider investing monetarily in your gift-giving. For instance, recently I gave away over 1,000 personalized copies of my book to prospective clients. It was expensive and time consuming, but the results have been fantastic. I added significant value for potential clients with no strings attached while creating positive TOMA around my message and what makes me unique.

Questions: How can you apply the marketing strategy of giving to your speaking business? What other marketing strategies have worked well for you?

]]>https://speakitforward.com/best-marketing-strategy-for-speakers/feed/23 Famous Motivational Speakers Who Aren’t Famous Yethttps://speakitforward.com/3-famous-motivational-speakers-who-arent-famous-yet/
https://speakitforward.com/3-famous-motivational-speakers-who-arent-famous-yet/#commentsWed, 06 Aug 2014 10:05:33 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=850As a professional motivational speaker, I’m privileged to rub shoulders with some incredibly talented people. Here are three famous motivational speakers who are crushing it even though you’ve probably never heard of them. What’s more, even if they never become as famous as Tony Robbins or Zig Ziglar, we can all learn from the cool things they are doing.

3 Famous Motivational Speakers Who Aren’t Famous Yet

1. Tim Gard—Humor. Funny is the name of the game in speaking and Tim Gard is one of the best I’ve seen. But humor alone isn’t enough. You’ve probably sat through funny keynote presentations only to walk away having no clue about the point of the message. Not so with Tim Gard. His message stays front and center in the midst of all the laughter.

Interesting Side Note: Judy Carter is a comedian turned professional speaker. She built her career around helping other comedians move from “the comedy club” to the “corporate club.” Check out her book The Message Of You.

2. Joe Martin—Life Story. Audiences are captivated when Joe Martin speaks because of his story of growing up in one of the toughest, crime-ridden, drug-infested ghettos in Miami, Florida, to later becoming the youngest professor ever hired in the state of Florida. It’s an amazing story and so dang moving!

A lot of speakers I work with don’t believe they have a compelling life story because their story isn’t as dramatic as Joe’s. I used to feel the same way. Yet while your story might not be as sensational as Joe’s, you DO have a story that will MOVE specific audiences. At the Speak It Forward Boot Camp we teach a system that pulls those life stories out of you along with the teaching points connected to them. It’s one of the most energetic sessions during the Boot Camp because people light up when they uncover their powerful, life-changing to share with the world!

3. Mike Rayburn—Anchors.Mike Rayburn blew me away the first time I saw him present because of his anchor. Anchors are stories, jokes, songs, or interactive experiences speakers use to teach. Notice they don’t use anchors to illustrate. They let their anchors actually teach their points. Anchors are now the core of my presentations and have moved me for struggling to get booked to being a sought-after speaker. Bottom line, great anchors make your presentation unforgettable.

These individuals are just a few of the incredible motivational speakers I’ve had the privilege of seeing present. You may never hear their names, but their audiences won’t forget the life-changing messages they deliver because of how they use humor, life stories, and anchors.

Questions: What about you? Who are your favorite motivational speakers? What have you learned from them?

NOTE: If you are interesting in learning the strategies these and other successful motivational speakers use to build and grow your speaking business, check out the Speak It Forward Boot Camp. It’s guaranteed to maximize your impact and income as a speaker.

NOTE: If this post was helpful, share it with others who are interested in pursuing their passion for speaking.

]]>https://speakitforward.com/3-famous-motivational-speakers-who-arent-famous-yet/feed/2The Only 3 Marketing Strategies You Need as a Speaker (HINT: None of Them Cost More Than $5)https://speakitforward.com/the-only-3-marketing-strategies-you-need-as-a-speaker/
https://speakitforward.com/the-only-3-marketing-strategies-you-need-as-a-speaker/#commentsWed, 30 Jul 2014 11:08:40 +0000https://speakitforward.com/?p=853There is strength in simplicity.

Yet when it comes to marketing strategies, most ideas are complicated, discombobulated, and expensive. Here are the only 3 marketing startegies I use as a speaker. What’s more, none of them cost more than $5.

The Only 3 Marketing Strategies You Need as a Speaker

(HINT: None of Them Cost More Than $5)

Revolving Door Marketing. Marketing your speaking services is as simple as walking through a revolving door. Before entering this revolving door, develop a list of meeting planners you want to serve. Once you have your list, enter the revolving door by introducing yourself via email (free) or letter. Then every four-to-six weeks send an addtional email/letter. Don’t ask for anything. Serve. Add value. Give. After four or five months of serving in a meaningful way, ask them to consider using your services. After you make the ask, reenter the revolving door and do it again. Of the three marketing startegies listed here, this is your bread and butter for getting booked as a speaker. It establishes TOMA (i.e. Top Of Mind Awareness) in an industry.

Non-traditional Showcasing. Traditional showcasing requires you to pay a fee to present. Non-traditional showcasing requires you to simply show up and shine. There are non-traditional showcasing opportunities all around you. Breakouts during conferences. Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. Business Network International meetings. Chamber of Commerce meetings.

Reserve Interviewing. Instead of waiting for meeting planners to interview you, take permission and interview them. Invite a meeting planner to breakfast or lunch (coffee if you want to stay under $5) and ask questions about how you can best serve their industry. Don’t pitch your services! Listen. Ask for advice. Really see things from the perspective of the meeting planner. Most importantly, pick up the check!